Basic drip coffee makers that will serve up a decent cup of coffee can cost $40 or less. However, if you want a truly great cup of coffee that is brewed perfectly every time or perhaps more options and convenient features then you will need to spend more money – even up to $200.

Coffee machines come in brew and dispense models or drip coffee makers with carafes that can brew up to 12 cups at a time. The coffee pot, or carafe, may either be thermal insulated or made of glass. Glass models use a warming plate to keep the coffee warm, but may acquire a burnt taste if left on too long, while a thermal insulated carafe keeps your coffee warmer longer without the use of a warming plate.

Some of the most important and convenient additional features to look for include a clearly marked water reservoir, programmable settings with automatic timer, small-batch setting, brew strength controls, pause and serve option, and auto-shutoff. Some more advanced features that are not necessary, but might come in handy for some people include a built-in grinder, hot plate temperature adjustment, water filter, and a self-clean cycle.

Below you will find our reviews of the top 10 best coffee makers.

9.3

For the best coffee maker we chose the OXO On 9-cup Coffee Maker which sells for $199. This drip coffee machine is one of the few models that have been certified for quality and performance by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), meaning that it is equipment capable of brewing coffee to the exacting standards set by the SCAA. Most users and reviewers agree that this OXO model makes a great tasting cup of coffee.

It uses an intelligent microprocessor to make sure all the variables like water temperature and brew time are perfect every time. The controls are easy to use with just a single dial to control the number of cups and the 24 hour start timer. The brewing cycle will fill the thermal carafe full of up to 9 cups in just 6 to 7 minutes.

About the only negative to the OXO On 9-cup version is the price. It is the most expensive on our list. However, if you are really picky about the taste and temperature of your coffee then we highly recommend this coffee maker.

9.2

The $179 Bonavita BV1900TS is an updated version of the also outstanding and cheaper BV1800. The BV1900TS is also certified by the SCAA and some users preferred the taste of this machine over all the others including the OXO.

This thing has exceptional performance – it heats up the water to ideal brewing temperature (205 degrees F / 96 degrees C) very quickly and brews 8 cups in just 5 to 6 minutes. It is very simple to use with just one button. However, that means it lacks some features like a programmable timer and brew strength options, but it does have an auto shutoff.

We recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS if a quality, hot cup of coffee is your primary objective and you don’t need the extra features.

9

The Bunn BXB Velocity Brew is our first pick for a coffee maker under $100. The top feature is its speed which can brew up to 10 cups of coffee in about 3 minutes. The taste of coffee it produces is really good, but does not quite compare to the OXO or Bonavita machines. It is well constructed with a stainless steel water tank that keeps the water heated to 200 degrees F, a glass carafe, and a porcelain-coated warming plate.

The controls are very basic without any extra features – just a simple on/off/warmer switch. There are no timers or programmable options if you are looking for that, but with its fast brew cycle you probably won’t miss it.

9

We selected the Cuisinart on Demand DCC-3000 as the best self-serve drip coffee maker and will cost about $97. This model dispenses one cup at a time with a press on the lever. It has a 12-cup coffee reservoir that is removable for easy clean up. It also has nearly every feature you could possibly want, but one we really like is the 1-4 cup setting which produces good coffee when you only want to brew less than 5 cups.

If you crave a gourmet cup of coffee, however, this model might not be for you as the coffee it produces is a little weak.

8.9

We picked the Hamilton Beach 49980 Two Way Brewer as the best two-way coffee brewer machine. What sets this appliance apart is the ability to brew either a single-serve cup or a full 12-cup pot of coffee. It features stainless steel construction, a 14 oz stainless travel mug, and a 12-cup glass carafe. Programmable controls allow you to control the brew time up to 24 hours beforehand, control the brew strength, and features a 2 hour automatic shutoff.

We recommend this $59 unit for all users who want the flexibility of either a single cup or full pot of java.

8.7

The $34 Hamilton Beach Brewstation Summit Ultra 48465 is the best cheap self-serve drip coffee maker. The 48465 has an insulated inner tank with no carafe. Instead you simply push your mug against the push bar to dispense for super easy one-handed operation. It also has lots of features and settings like brew strength and size, keep-warm mode, programmable auto-shutoff, and digital display.

One of the main complaints is that it can be messy due to the way it operates. It also is a bit slow.

Overall the coffee the Hamilton Beach Brewstation Summit Ultra 48465 makes is surprisingly good for the price and with plenty of features we would not be afraid to recommend it for all but the most obsessive coffee snob.

8.5

The Mr. Coffee DRX5 is tied for the cheapest coffee maker on our list at $19.99. Its carafe has a 4 cup / 16 oz capacity that is ideal for households with just one coffee drinker. The coffee quality is good, and it does have a programmable timer although this appliance does not have all the features you might be looking for.

We recommend this Mr. Coffee model for individual users who want a budget coffee maker.

8.2

If you are looking for a cheap large-pot brewer then look no further than the best-selling $30 Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT. It is a programmable 12-cup drip coffee machine. It has most of the features you could want like a programmable clock, auto shutoff, water filter, and a special cleaning cycle.

Unfortunately many users have complained that the actual cup of coffee it produces has a ‘plastic’ taste and smell to it. It also has a long brew time and does not stay as hot for as long as other models.

We recommend Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT for people whose primary concern is price, but still need a large pot of coffee.

8

We chose the Black & Decker DSM18S as the best single cup coffee maker. This machine is also tied for the cheapest on our list at just $19.99. It brews directly into a 15 oz stainless steel travel mug that fits most car cup holders. One nice feature is the permanent filter which means no need to buy paper filters. The filter and the whole machine are also very easy to clean.

The simple on/off controls are basic and will start brewing when turned on. It takes about 5 minutes to finish dripping completely.

We recommend the Black & Decker DSM18S for anyone who likes to take a single cup of coffee on the go when they leave for work in the morning.